This information is for Global Business and Digital Arts Students that started GBDA, prior to Fall 2022.
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Our courses cover topics ranging from design, imaging and user experience to business and code/computing. Each course is taught by faculty who have extensive experience within their discipline.
To enhance knowledge application and real-world experience, the GBDA program requires students to complete a four-month internship and encourages students to go abroad for one term.
Course Offerings
The following courses are required in order to graduate with a Global Business and Digital Arts degree. This information is also contained within the academic calendar:
First Year Courses
Fall Term (1A)
Winter (1B)
Second, Third and Fourth Year Courses
*2nd year classes will include 1 elective in the fall term and 1 elective in the winter term.
Internships
GBDA internships are a mandatory graduation milestone, taking place in the spring term following the completion of a student's 3rd year of academic studies. Over the course of 16 weeks (between May 1st and August 31), students will work a 35 to 40 hour week at an approved organization earning an average hourly wage of $20/hr.
*A completed internship milestone on a GBDA student’s academic record will indicate successful completion of this requirement.
Process and Procedure for Students
Cooperative and Experiential Education facilitates the GBDA internship Recruitment Cycle for GBDA students. GBDA students will always participate in the Winter Recruitment Cycle. View the Current Co-op Recruitment Cycle dates.
GBDA students will find all internship possibilities in WaterlooWorks and are invited to apply to ALL posted co-operative education jobs as well as jobs posted specifically for GBDA students.
Specifically, WaterlooWorks is the system you will use to:
- Apply to internships
- Get notifications of scheduled interviews
- Get notifications of rankings
- Get notifications of job offers
* GBDA students are expected to follow the Co-op rules & responsibilities
Failure to honour any commitment for employment (ex: job matches through WaterlooWorks, previously committed offers of employment, or failing to report to work for an agreed upon employment commitment, etc.) will result in disciplinary action.
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Go Abroad
Going abroad can add value to your degree by supporting the development of new skills, building your international network and expanding your views and opportunities.
Over 50% of our Global Business and Digital Arts students pursue a term abroad either in their first term of third year (3A) or first term of fourth year (4A).
GBDA students who obtain both a 70% minimum average in their major and 70% minimum overall and have completed 2 years of university by the time of exchange are eligible to participate. Do note: Some of our exchange programs require a language background. You may want to consider taking a language course prior to your exchange.
GBDA Students: Please see the Go Abroad website to learn more about how an exchange can complement your degree!
*Students begin the Go Abroad process in second year (2A).
Go Abroad Opportunities
Third Year
If you want to go in 3A, all study abroad and exchange opportunities offered by the Faculty of Arts are available to you, providing the semesters line up with our own. In addition, here is a list of schools that previous GBDA students have attended and courses they have taken. This can help you determine a school you might be interested in.
List of Schools
Akita International University Exchange, Japan CCS140 Career Design
City University of Hong Kong CS1303 Introduction to Internet and Programing
City University of Hong Kong GE1206 - Accelerating Professional Growth on the Web
City University of Hong Kong GE1220 - Enhancing Your Service Leadership for the 21st Century
City University of Hong Kong GE 1225 Become a Smart and Responsible Consumer
Dauphine (France) I0LS20 Energy and Climate Change Economics
Dauphine (France) I0LT22 Introduction to European Business Law
Dauphine (France) I0LT23 Eurpoean Institutions
Dauphine (France) I0MT11 Economics for non-economists
Dauphine (France) FLE A2: General Course
Nanyang Technological University Exchange AB1301: Business Law
Nanyang Technological University Exchange DF2001 Film Editing
Nanyang Technological University Exchange DF2005 Writing for Film
National University of Singapore Exchange GES1005 Everyday Life of Chinese Singaporeans: Past & Present
National University of Singapore Exchange SE2225 Forbidden Pleasures: Vice in Southeast Asia
University College of London POLS 6001B - Introduction of British Politics
University College of London POLS 6006B - Politics of the European Union
University College of London PSYC3108A Organisational Psychology
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) 13165 Commercial Law
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) 13453 Structure Of The Media System
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) 13507 Spanish History 20th Centruy
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) 13650 Econometric Techniques
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) 14359 Information Skills
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) 16634- Human Rights
University of Dundee Exchange AC11001: Introduction to Software Development
University of Dundee Exchange BU 30015: Human Resources
University of Leeds Exchange SPPO 2010 Practiccal Language Skills in Spanish 2
Fourth Year
If you are going abroad in 4A, you are only permitted to consider our recommended exchange partners (PDF) to mitigate conflicts with the timeline of mandatory internships.
The Process
The GBDA Go Abroad process is a collaboration facilitated between the Stratford School, the Student Success Office and your host university. Please refer to the following information regularly.
Timeline
Students do not need to worry about the exchange program until their 2nd year.
SEPTEMBER – Information Session
Starting in September of your 2nd year, there will be an information session hosted by the Student Success Office about the Go Abroad process. This session will provide an overview of the timeline, mandatory dates and milestones and offer additional points of contact.
The Student Success Office will also run a mandatory information session, with dates open in the fall. Please plan accordingly around the referenced dates.
OCTOBER – Applications open (Deadline is November 1st)
On October 1st, The Student Success Office (SSO) opens applications. You have until November 1st to complete the application on Waterloo Passport.
FEBRUARY (midmonth) - Stratford Onboarding Session
You should attend an on-boarding session held in Stratford.
At this session you will get instructions on course selection.
MARCH - Panel Discussion
A panel discussion during a lunch period in Stratford. This panel will feature those who studied abroad the year prior will speak about their experiences. The info session will conclude with a 15-minute Q&A.
Check out the Student Success Office's ten stepts for information about the go aboard application process.
Course Selection
The course selection process is done in collaboration with the Stratford Associate Director of Undergraduate (ADA), and not the SSO. The Stratford ADA will send out instructions including an excel spreadsheet (.xlsx) in mid-February.
While abroad, you are permitted to take a wide variety of courses. It is recommended that you use this time abroad to take courses that will help you specialize in your area of interest. This could be in business, UX, design, etc. You are not permitted to take courses you have already taken or will take in the GBDA program. You must select courses that are different from these courses. Please select several courses *before going*, and submit these courses to the Associate Director of Undergraduate for approval.
You are asked to pick twice the number of courses that you need in case you are not able to enroll in some of your first choices due to time conflicts etc.
The course approval process happens between the Stratford ADA and the individual student. Any questions regarding this process can be answered by your ADA.
Tuition Fees and Transfer Credits
When on exchange, you will pay tuition fees to the University of Waterloo, equivalent to 2.5 credits per term, rather than to the exchange university.
- If you are going in 3A, you take the equivalent of 2.5 credits abroad.
- If you are going in 4A you take the equivalent to 2.0 credits abroad and you will need to take GBDA403 remotely.
You can find all of the credit equivalencies, organized by university, here.
Once you are approved for study abroad, you will be enrolled in 365 or 465 by the registrar's office. You are *not* responsible for signing up for these courses.
The courses taken during the exchange can be credited toward your Waterloo degree (subject to academic approval). Generally, successful completion of courses abroad means a minimum grade of 60% or C/C- in the course to fulfil your academic requirements.
All acceptable grades received from international courses will appear only as "credits" on your Waterloo transcript. The transfer credits will be assessed upon successful completion of your exchange (generally 2 to 4 months following the end of your term abroad).
The University of Waterloo offers financial aid and scholarships to help you finance your study abroad experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Go Abroad is facilitated by the Stratford School, the Student Success Office and the host university. To ensure your questions are answered with most efficiently and accurately, please refer to the list below to determine to whom your questions need to be directed.
Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies
While abroad, students are permitted to take a wide variety of courses. It is recommended that you use this time abroad to take courses that will help you specialize in your area of interest. This could be in business, UX, design, etc. Students are encouraged to benefit from this time abroad and take cultural courses relating to your host Country.
- What courses can’t I take?
Students are not permitted to take courses they have already taken or will take in the GBDA program. Students must select courses that are different from these courses. Students must select a number of courses before going, and submit these courses to the Associate Director of Undergraduate for approval.
- How do I ensure that I am taking the proper amount of courses that equal to 2.5 or 2.0 U of W credits?
Please review the credit equivalency here.
Student Success Office
- How many courses should I take at the host university?
Before you contact the SSO, refer to the Arts Destination website. If you have any questions, then contact the SSO.
Before you contact the SSO, refer to the Arts Destination website. If you have any questions, then contact the SSO.
- Do I need a VISA for this country?
Your host university will send you visa requirements. It is also your responsibility to do this appropriate research.
Host University
- I have a question about content on your website.
Speak with your academic advisor, Andrew Geekie-Sousa
- I have a question about class schedules?
Speak with your academic advisor, Andrew Geekie-Sousa
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Frequently Asked Questions
GBDA is a program that's completely unique to the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business at the University of Waterloo.
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Program
Can I transfer into the co-op stream?
No. As your GBDA program is a regular program, it is not possible to transfer to the co-op stream. We integrated practical experience directly through the program including:
- Course-based projects where students work with industry mentors
- A 4-month internship
- The development of an e-portfolio
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Can I do a minor?
GBDA students have 6 elective courses. Most minors require that you complete 8-10 classes in that discipline. GBDA students wishing to complete a minor would be required to take extra courses, and those courses would need to fit into the student's schedule.
I have to do a second language course - what are my options?
We offer many introductory language courses. You can select classes from Arabic, Latin, Chinese, Croatian, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. You can view all the options through the undergraduate calendar.
I'm in another program at Waterloo - can I take a GBDA class?
Unfortunately no. Due to our differentiated tuition fee structure, and physical space limits, GBDA classes are only available to GBDA students.
Where will I live when I am studying in Stratford?
Students find off-campus housing in the community - the Off-Campus Housing Office works with students and landlords to provide resources and support in arranging housing. There are a variety of student-focused accommodations in Stratford. Note that if planning to live outside of Stratford during upper years, transportation is the responsibility of the student.
International Experience
Can GBDA students complete the Global Experience Certificate?
Yes! GBDA students can easily complete the GEC, as they complete many requirements as part of their program (e.g. 2 language courses, an internationally-focused course) and have the opportunity to do an international exchange.
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